About Us
AVA Foundation
We would like to introduce ourselves as “AVA Creations”, a handloom fabric brand jointly promoted by “M/s AVA” and “AVA Foundation”. M/s AVA is a for profit MSME having Udyog Aadhaar No. AS03D0000473 & “AVA Foundation”, a not for profit society registered under Societies Registration Act, 1860 having Registration No: RS/KAM (M)/ 263/P/ 180 of 2017-2018 (NGO Darpan Unique ID: AS/2017/0163290).
In August, 2017, we have established a Community Weaving cum Production Center near Deepor Beel Bird Sanctuary to provide an alternate livelihood to the forest dwellers and currently connected to 245+ weavers from Matia, Mikirpara, Chakardeo, Bakrapara, Sajanpara, Satargaon, & Barduar Bagan locality under Rani Development Block and Chayani Barduar Block of Kamrup District for skill training and product development, whereas M/s AVA has provided requisite support in sourcing orders, working capital, buy back arrangement of the product manufactured in the Community Weaving cum Production Center. A portion from our profit from our product sell by “M/s AVA” goes to “AVA Foundation” to carry out development activities for our artisans associated with “AVA Creations”. Recently, we have also set up a “Handloom Experience Center” in Matia Hills to attract tourists and textile enthusiasts across the globe.
We at AVA Creations are always promoting natural fibers of North East India and ethical consumerism. We are trying to provide alternate livelihood through handloom value chain and sericulture practices for the 250+ forest dependent families residing in Adherijuli, Moirapur, Dekapathar, Challi, Jaipur Japangbari & Jimirgaon villages in Assam Meghalaya border areas of Kamrup District of Assam to earn sustainable income with dignity. Our “Handloom to Hopeloom” initiative is promoting handwoven world class products in natural fibers by women artisans of forest dependent areas and “Maa Xuta Prakalpa” is a holistic approach to promote Eri Silk rearing, spinning of Eri Silk yarn by the womens of dependent communities so that their sole dependence on forest for their livelihood can be reduced. Please like our facebook page https://www.facebook.com/avacreations to know more about us.
Model of AVA Creations
Explore how AVA Creations helps in conserve environment, empower communities & bring economic revolution
Hand-loom to Hope-loom
The peoples living in the villages near forest areas are mainly depend on surrounding natural resources for their survival and daily needs. These forests also act as safety nets in time of crisis. Today the forests are facing acute biotic pressure and losing sustainability in production. Government and many development agencies have initiated actions to wear away these forest fringe communities from their sole dependence on forests by providing alternate livelihood options. These people are being incentivized by way of skill up-gradation and business orientation. Their improved alternate livelihoods will create a win-win situation for forests and dependent communities. There is an abundant scope for promoting livelihoods in those areas like weaving, textile and bamboo handicrafts.
Handloom is ubiquitous in Assam. Each and every household possesses a loom on which the women members of the household weave clothes. The area has a diverse demography with various communities –Assamese, Bodos, Karbis, Misings, Rabhas, to name a few – and this is reflected in the diversity of the textiles woven. Assam is known for its mekhela chadors, gamochas, aronais, dokhnas etc.
Despite the overwhelming presence of handloom, it is not used as a source of income, with clothes mainly being woven only for personal or the family’s consumptions. The reasons for this are:
- Lack of
awareness about the potential of using handloom as a source of income - Lack of
resources among the weavers - Oversupply
and seasonal demand in the local market - No market
linkages with nearby towns and cities
Project Stage Sequence | Project Stage Details | Current Status |
1 | Identify a group of weavers who are eager and enthusiastic for the first pilot | Done |
2 | Conduct motivation, awareness workshops and skill training for this group | Done |
3 | Identify skill and machinery requirements | Done |
4 | Set up a community weaving cum production center | Done |
5 | Link up with Shops/Portals/Buying Houses as market for Products | In Progress |
6 | Replicate this model with another group of weavers | Next Stage |
7 | Promote a Private Limited Company | Final Stage |
Role of M/s AVA and AVA Foundation in Promoting “AVA Creations”
With one of the prime objectives of enhancing livelihoods, conserving forests and ushering in development of forest dependent communities, in August, 2017, M/s AVA has started the Community Weaving cum Production Center near Deepor Beel Bird Sanctuary and with the help of AVA Foundation, women weavers from forest dependent communities were trained in the Community Center to enhance their traditional skills and to imbibe themselves with modern technologies. The products made by these women are being sold in the brand name of “AVA Creations.”
AVA Foundation help the weavers with Skill Mapping and Capacity Building, whereas M/s AVA supports them in terms of Infrastructure, Working Capital, Marketing and Branding. With every product sold by M/s AVA, a portion of profit directly goes to AVA Foundation, which helps the foundation to conduct development activities for the weavers associated with AVA Creations.
The diagram below represents the play of M/s AVA and AVA Foundation in promoting AVA Creations
Journey so Far
Apparels
AVA Creations is more than just a brand, it is a initiative to balance conservation and livelihood at the same time.
Founded in 2017, AVA Creations was established to enhance the earning of Forest dependent Communities by providing them alternate livelihood through hand-loom value chain. AVA Creations is more than just a brand, it is an initiative of self-sustenance and to enhance the earning capabilities of forest fringe women’s in Assam while preserving the rich heritage of artistic weaving.
Started by a group of 35 women’s from forest fringe communities in Matia hills, near Deepor Beel Wild Life Sanctuary, Guwahati, with an objective to uplift and raise the socio-economic status of the women residing in the forest villages by using their traditional skills imbibed in modern technologies. It aim to protect their identity by upholding their self esteem and dignity through self reliance, education and guide them towards all round development.
Headquartered in Guwahati and since its inception almost 3 years ago, AVA Creations, today is a network of 245+ women’s working in and around forest dependent areas of Kamrup, Assam. With quite a few of these women becoming proficient in the skills taught to them, this newly sought creativity fills up their livelihood much beyond what money can buy. The magic of colors, weave pattern create wonders what human hands can achieve and this is what AVA Creations seeks to attain.
Our quest is to blend the traditional with contemporary sensibilities to create a range of diversified
products with unique design and colour combination. The sustainability of our model is based on skill and capacity building of the women’s from forest villages and adoption of business practices and processes which are fair, ethical and eco-friendly.
